Introducing - Bundle Up stamp set from Little Monkeys and Studio Calico!!!

This Bundle Up stamp set includes FIVE stamps! Approx size of the dotted frame is 3.75″ x 2.75″ - this will be great for lots of, um, warmer-themed projects, too.

Ready to get yours? Get this stamp set free with your purchase over $25.00 for a limited time OR as part of our Bundle Up Special Set, which includes the stamp set and a new mini set of Sleeves w/Inserts in wintery colors. Great for you and all the stampers on your list - get yours today!

Check out the Bundle Up color set

Brrr…better BUNDLE UP!

In other exciting news…things are TONS better with my mother!  Thank you, thank you for all the prayers and well wishes.  She actually has a rare congenital defect in her diaphragm that she’s lived with all her life that’s just caused a problem now.  It’s something they check for in newborns now, apparently, but not so much 58 years ago.  What she has/had is a Morgagni’s hernia - her intestines moved through a hole in her diaphragm up into her chest.  She’d been sick and in a pretty bad pain for several days before going to the dr, so there was an added concern that the tissue had been lacking oxygen all that time and would no longer be functional, which would mean major surgery to remove dead tissue and re-route things.  Turns out it was a best-case scenario and the surgeon was able to do laproscopic surgery to get everything back into place and close the hole with some sutures.  She’ll have another surgery relatively soon to close the hole permanently, but for the moment, everything’s looking good.  Such a relief!

Miss the Pies in the Over / Pre-Black Friday Sale fun yesterday? Not to worry, we’re starting a new sale today to last all the holiday weekend - right through Cyber Monday!

Shop Thursday - Monday to get 20% off all products in the Little Monkeys Shop!

Today’s the day everyone’s doing their ‘getting ready’ for Thanksgiving stuff. The last trip to the grocery store, picking up pre-made specialty items, and, of course, the baking of pies. Pies were our family’s ‘job’ for the holiday meals, whether at one of our grandparents’ houses, an aunt/uncle’s house, our house, where ever we were - we brought pies.

My father really enjoys tweaking the recipes, but really just for the crust. His quest has always been for the perfect crust. I think he defines the perfect crust a little differently than lots of people, though. Here’s my take on what he thinks is the perfect crust - thick enough to hold the pie together long enough to get it from the pie pan to the plate, but thin enough not to compete with the pie filling. And it’s to got to be tasty and flaky, too. I’ve rolled tons of pie crusts (hundreds? thousands? lol) and it’s a fun challenge to get them that thin. Of course, the dough has to be just right to be able to do what it’s supposed to do & that’s where the different experiments have been made. It’s down pretty much to a set recipe now that we all know by heart. There are even recommendations for the right margarine to use. My boys love to help in the kitchen and are already associating baking ‘the pies’ with Grandpa. That’s too cool!

This year we are having my brother-in-law, sister-in-law and nephew over to our house for Thanksgiving, so there won’t be quite as many pies made. It’s really hard for me to stop with the pies once I get started though. I always buy enough supplies to make double what I intend to make, just in case of a disaster. Don’t think that far ahead for the rest of the meal, but the pies, yes, definitely have to be prepared. But…when the pies are made and all the stuff for MORE pies is just there staring at me out of the cupboard…oh, it’s so hard to stop!!

It’s also wonderful if you roll it a little thicker, especially for two-crust pies. Sprinkle on a little sugar and cinnamon, add a couple of pats of butter to the top - yum! Got a recipe for killer crust? Please share! I like this one, but if I found one that was better….

Now for some other GOOD STUFF, maybe not as tasty, though! SALE INFO!!

Since everyone’s going to need something to do once the pies are in the oven (ha!), we’re having a PIES IN THE OVEN / PRE-BLACK FRIDAY SALE - 30% off all products!! You don’t need to do anything. Prices in the Little Monkeys Shop already list sale prices - just add to your cart and you’re ready to go! Offer good on new purchases Wednesday, 11/26/08, only. Don’t miss this first-ever sale!

So, once you’ve got your pies baking in the oven, swing by our sale, check out the Design Monkeys’ work if you haven’t already and hip hop over to monkey around in the Unity Forum on Splitcoaststampers and join in the Hip Hop Thursday fun a day early! Things get started in their forum at 10AM Central and last all the way ’til midnight. Angela’s always got great deals on the Unity blog and their design team has lots of fun with giveaways all day long. We’re going to have a Hip Hop giveaway, too, so check it all out!

PS - Don’t worry too much if you miss out on the Pies in the Oven / Pre-Black Friday Sale, though. We’re keeping the fun going through the weekend with another sale to run from Thanksgiving straight on through Cyber Monday - check out the Monkey Around All Weekend Sale to get 20% off all products!!

Didn’t get the hint?  lol  Swing by her blog to check out both of her cool projects.  AND she’s got a giveaway!

Gotta keep you on your toes, right?

Actually, I couldn’t find one part that I wanted to share except the WHOLE THING at once!  LOL

As I’ve mentioned before, we’re going to highlight one Monkey’s storage system each month and (obviously by now, I guess!) we’re starting off with Aimee!  Swing on over to her blog and check it out - be warned, though, you’re gonna want to get crafty with your system when you see all the details!

Swing on over to Rae’s blog to see it all b/c there’s obviously lots more to see!

Thanks so much to Stefani Riley!

Here’s Stefani’s post -
Hi and congratulations on one year! I wish I had a blog so I could use the blinkies!
My color idea is Apples! You know Apples for fall. A variety of Reds, Yellows and of course Greens!
I’ve been so happy with my storage system and am very proud to be a Cheeky Little Monkey!
~Stefani

Introducing…Apple Set!

A mix of reds and greens with a splash of apple-y yellow!

Are you starting to reach for that apple sitting on the counter yet? As I mulled over the different suggestions, the Apple Set kept popping in my head. As I walked through the grocery store, there it was again. As the leaves started to change colors, Apple Set. After a while, I wasn’t even sure it wasn’t MY OWN idea! ha! Apparently, I really, really love it. Thanks a big bunch, Stefani - of apples, that is!
Now that I have it all together in one place, it’s even more clear what a great set this is. With the reds and greens, it’s also very appropriate for the holiday season!! That wasn’t really a consideration initially, but as things came together, the light bulb went on and everything really fell into place for this color set very quickly after that.

Be sure to think about Little Monkeys when you plan gifts for your family and friends - even yourself! This new color set is sure to put a smile on everyone’s face. It’s one of our most versatile sets since it covers pretty much every occasion. Great for fall (aka apple season!), great for the holidays, great for fun kid stamps. Mix them in with other color sets and use them for alphas or sentiments. Dedicate them all to a specific stamp company. You name it, this set’s got it covered! The colors really pop and they’ll keep that wonderful holiday spirit flowing as you use your stamps working on different cards or projects or even as you flip through them later during the year.

As usual, this is a limited release available beginning now and lasting only through mid-February, when the next color set will be revealed. Get yours now to have on hand as you get ready for the holidays!

One thing that’s not necessarily new, but is a new release - our Birthday Mini Set is joining the list of options on a more permanent basis as…Cupcake Mini Set! Thanks for all the feedback on this great mini set! I’m really excited to have this available year round! So, if you missed out in October, now’s your chance to get it!